European Cave Lion Source 1: African Leopard Ancestor: European Cave Lion
Introduction The European Cave Lion is considered as a species that is consider in its own rights, under the name of Panthera spelaea, and at least one authority, based a comparision of skull shape. The European Cave Lion is to be closely related to tigers and leopard. But recent genetic research has shown that it was close, but seperate, relative of the modern lion. The European Cave Lion was probably the largest cat that ever lived, the European cave lion are around 25% larger than modern lion and also larger than modern Siberian tigers. It probably comparable in size to the modern liger hybrids. The European cave lion ranged across most of Europe and is depicated in cave painting that are made during the Ice Age periods. This page will examine how this animals have adapted to the environment during its time and what abilities it have to survive within the fittest.
Video Source 1: European Cave Lion Behaviour
Scientific Classicfication Of European Cave Lion
LevelClassification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Panthera
Species
P. leo
Subspecies
P. I. spelaea
Latin Name The latin name "Panthera"belongs to a genus of a family Felidae , which contains four well known living species. It includes the tiger, lion, jaguar, and the leopard. The genus comprises about half of the Pantherinae subfamily, the big cats. Only the four of the panthera cat species have the anatomical structure which enables them to roar. the primary reason for this was formerly assumed to be the incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone. Only the larynx and the snow leopard does not have the abilty to roar. Although it has an incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone, they lack the ability of the special morphology of the larynx. History And Extinction Pressure History
The European Cave Lion was derived from the earlier Panthera leo fossolos, which first appeaed in Europe about 700,000 years ago. The European Cave Lion have itself lived from 370,000 to 10,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene eponch, which was closely to the time of the ice age. The ice age is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, that results in an expansion of condinental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alphine glaciers. Although there are some indications that the European cave lion may have existed during the historic times in southeastern Europe, as recently as 2,000 years ago in the Balkans. Balkan is located at the geopolotical and cultural region of southeastern Europe.
Extinction Pressure
The European Cave Lion was extinct about 10,000 years ago during the result of the Wurm glaciation. The Wurm glaciation was the last glacial period which was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occuring during the last years from 110kak to 10 ka ago of the Plestocene. During this period there were several changes between the glacier advence and retreat, At that time the maxium extent of glaciation was approximately 18,000 years ago. The general pattern of the global cooling and glacier advance was similar. The local difference within the development of the glacier advance and retreat makes it difficult to compare the details from continent to continent. The European Cave Lion extinction appears linked to the Quaternary extinction event. This event wiped out of the megafauna prey in those regions. The European Cave Lion extinction may also be caused by th over hunting of early human.
Source 2: European Cave Lion Cave Painting During the Ice Age By Early HumanSource 3: Ige Age Period Habitat The European Cave Lion inhabited steppes and parkland region in the north and semi-desert areas in the south of Eurasia. The European Cave Lion were evidently not adapted to deep snow or dense forest. The cave lion were most widespread in parts of Europe from Britian, Germany and Spain and all the way to the Bering Strait and from Siberia to Turkistan.
The European Cave Lion are most common to be found in caves, but it is doubful whether they lived in them. During its time, the European Cave Lion was one of the key member of the Pleistocene fauna in Eurasis, during which time it was widespread. The European Cave Lion lives in climate around -10 degrees to -30 degrees.
Source 4: European Cave Lion Habitat Area: CaveSource 5: European Cave Lion Map Distribution Throughout Europe Physical Classification And Adaption
Physical Characteristic The European Cave Lion was one of the largest lions that have ever lived in this planet. The skeleton of an adult male had a shoulder height of around 1.5 meters around 5 foot from toe to shoulder. The body length of the European cave lion may be as long as 2.8m around 9 foot without the tail. Therefore the European cave lion may have been around 10-25% bigger than present day modern lions. The Eruopean Cave Lion may have weight about 320 kilogram. The European Cave Lion has been shown by cave painting evidence as that it had rounded, potruding ears, tufted tails, possibly faint tiger-like stripes, and that at least some had a ruff or primitive mane around heir neck , indicating males like modern lions. The archaeological artifacts indicate that the European cave lion may be hunted for the Paleolithic religious rituals during the ice age period.
Source 6: European Cave Lion size compare to human
Adaption and Phycological Behaviour The European Cave Lion main advantage are their huge body structure which allows them to hunt on their large prey. Also their well made back legs may allow them to leap of a height for about 2 meters to hold on to their prey. The European Cave Lion most common weapon is their paw that may be used for blowing smaller prey of their front paw and then held down with both front paw. The European Cave Lion have a strong jaw that can break through their prey, through the bite on the back of the neck. The European Cave Lion usually is not a fast runner, but the European cave lion can balance itself very easilt without being disturbed through the process of catching its prey.
The European Cave Lion are active carnivours, which suggest that this predators works together and the cave painting suggested that they have hunting strategy of contemporary lionesses. The European Cave Lion are their faint tiger-like stripe which may allow them to hide within areas that may be difficult for their prey to spot them. Their tuff coat gives them the ability to stand the force of the cruel temperature during the ice age within -10 to -30 degrees.
The European Cave Lion prefer mostly to stay in cave when it is day and prefer to be active during the night, sometimes the European Cave Lion may also carry their prey into their cave to hide it away from scavengers and other predators. The European Cave Lion cave may sometimes be mixed up with the cave bear. It has shown that living in cave can reduce the temperature of the outside for around 10-15 degrees.
When the European Cave Lion rub against something, they transfer special scent. The European Cave Lion also communicate by using body language. They use their ears to signal their mood and twitch their tails to show if they are excited. The European Cave Lion like scratch things to clean their claws and stretch their limbs. At the same time they leave a scented mark for others to both see and smell.The European Cave Lion may also spray urine to mark its territory, this scent marks left by a make tells other males to stay away. The scent left by a female will tell a male passing through her range is she is ready to mate. The European Cave Lion hisses at an enemy, like mammoth when they know they don't have the ability to take them down. The European Cave Lion reproductio period will normally be within October to December in the winter period. Each female European Cave Lion can give birth to 1 to 2 cubs. The European Cave Lion are also loners, they don't live in groups, it will only come together within the reproduction period.
Source 7: European Cave Lion Fossil Skull And Jaws
Diet The European Cave Lion are active carnivours which gives us evidence that the European Cave Lion may propebly prey for meat. The European Cave Lion may prey upon large herbivours animals at their time which may include horses, deer and bison. The European Cave Lion may also prey on small prey such as rabbits or mouse at that time. When killing their prey the European Cave Lio will usually kill it by crushing through their back neck with their stong build jaws and sharp teeth. When killing smaller prey, the European Cave Lion will mostly use its powerful paw to blow out their prey.
Source 1: African Leopard Ancestor: European Cave Lion
Introduction
The European Cave Lion is considered as a species that is consider in its own rights, under the name of Panthera spelaea, and at least one authority, based a comparision of skull shape. The European Cave Lion is to be closely related to tigers and leopard. But recent genetic research has shown that it was close, but seperate, relative of the modern lion. The European Cave Lion was probably the largest cat that ever lived, the European cave lion are around 25% larger than modern lion and also larger than modern Siberian tigers. It probably comparable in size to the modern liger hybrids. The European cave lion ranged across most of Europe and is depicated in cave painting that are made during the Ice Age periods. This page will examine how this animals have adapted to the environment during its time and what abilities it have to survive within the fittest.
Video Source 1: European Cave Lion Behaviour
Scientific Classicfication Of European Cave Lion
Level Classification
Latin Name
The latin name "Panthera"belongs to a genus of a family Felidae , which contains four well known living species. It includes the tiger, lion, jaguar, and the leopard. The genus comprises about half of the Pantherinae subfamily, the big cats. Only the four of the panthera cat species have the anatomical structure which enables them to roar. the primary reason for this was formerly assumed to be the incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone. Only the larynx and the snow leopard does not have the abilty to roar. Although it has an incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone, they lack the ability of the special morphology of the larynx.
History And Extinction Pressure
History
The European Cave Lion was derived from the earlier Panthera leo fossolos, which first appeaed in Europe about 700,000 years ago. The European Cave Lion have itself lived from 370,000 to 10,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene eponch, which was closely to the time of the ice age. The ice age is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, that results in an expansion of condinental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alphine glaciers. Although there are some indications that the European cave lion may have existed during the historic times in southeastern Europe, as recently as 2,000 years ago in the Balkans. Balkan is located at the geopolotical and cultural region of southeastern Europe.
Extinction Pressure
The European Cave Lion was extinct about 10,000 years ago during the result of the Wurm glaciation. The Wurm glaciation was the last glacial period which was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occuring during the last years from 110kak to 10 ka ago of the Plestocene. During this period there were several changes between the glacier advence and retreat, At that time the maxium extent of glaciation was approximately 18,000 years ago. The general pattern of the global cooling and glacier advance was similar. The local difference within the development of the glacier advance and retreat makes it difficult to compare the details from continent to continent. The European Cave Lion extinction appears linked to the Quaternary extinction event. This event wiped out of the megafauna prey in those regions. The European Cave Lion extinction may also be caused by th over hunting of early human.
Source 2: European Cave Lion Cave Painting During the Ice Age By Early Human Source 3: Ige Age Period
Habitat
The European Cave Lion inhabited steppes and parkland region in the north and semi-desert areas in the south of Eurasia. The European Cave Lion were evidently not adapted to deep snow or dense forest. The cave lion were most widespread in parts of Europe from Britian, Germany and Spain and all the way to the Bering Strait and from Siberia to Turkistan.
The European Cave Lion are most common to be found in caves, but it is doubful whether they lived in them. During its time, the European Cave Lion was one of the key member of the Pleistocene fauna in Eurasis, during which time it was widespread. The European Cave Lion lives in climate around -10 degrees to -30 degrees.
Source 4: European Cave Lion Habitat Area: Cave Source 5: European Cave Lion Map Distribution Throughout Europe
Physical Classification And Adaption
Physical Characteristic
The European Cave Lion was one of the largest lions that have ever lived in this planet. The skeleton of an adult male had a shoulder height of around 1.5 meters around 5 foot from toe to shoulder. The body length of the European cave lion may be as long as 2.8m around 9 foot without the tail. Therefore the European cave lion may have been around 10-25% bigger than present day modern lions. The Eruopean Cave Lion may have weight about 320 kilogram. The European Cave Lion has been shown by cave painting evidence as that it had rounded, potruding ears, tufted tails, possibly faint tiger-like stripes, and that at least some had a ruff or primitive mane around heir neck , indicating males like modern lions. The archaeological artifacts indicate that the European cave lion may be hunted for the Paleolithic religious rituals during the ice age period.
Source 6: European Cave Lion size compare to human
Adaption and Phycological Behaviour
The European Cave Lion main advantage are their huge body structure which allows them to hunt on their large prey. Also their well made back legs may allow them to leap of a height for about 2 meters to hold on to their prey. The European Cave Lion most common weapon is their paw that may be used for blowing smaller prey of their front paw and then held down with both front paw. The European Cave Lion have a strong jaw that can break through their prey, through the bite on the back of the neck. The European Cave Lion usually is not a fast runner, but the European cave lion can balance itself very easilt without being disturbed through the process of catching its prey.
The European Cave Lion are active carnivours, which suggest that this predators works together and the cave painting suggested that they have hunting strategy of contemporary lionesses. The European Cave Lion are their faint tiger-like stripe which may allow them to hide within areas that may be difficult for their prey to spot them. Their tuff coat gives them the ability to stand the force of the cruel temperature during the ice age within -10 to -30 degrees.
The European Cave Lion prefer mostly to stay in cave when it is day and prefer to be active during the night, sometimes the European Cave Lion may also carry their prey into their cave to hide it away from scavengers and other predators. The European Cave Lion cave may sometimes be mixed up with the cave bear. It has shown that living in cave can reduce the temperature of the outside for around 10-15 degrees.
When the European Cave Lion rub against something, they transfer special scent. The European Cave Lion also communicate by using body language. They use their ears to signal their mood and twitch their tails to show if they are excited. The European Cave Lion like scratch things to clean their claws and stretch their limbs. At the same time they leave a scented mark for others to both see and smell.The European Cave Lion may also spray urine to mark its territory, this scent marks left by a make tells other males to stay away. The scent left by a female will tell a male passing through her range is she is ready to mate. The European Cave Lion hisses at an enemy, like mammoth when they know they don't have the ability to take them down. The European Cave Lion reproductio period will normally be within October to December in the winter period. Each female European Cave Lion can give birth to 1 to 2 cubs. The European Cave Lion are also loners, they don't live in groups, it will only come together within the reproduction period.
Source 7: European Cave Lion Fossil Skull And Jaws
Diet
The European Cave Lion are active carnivours which gives us evidence that the European Cave Lion may propebly prey for meat. The European Cave Lion may prey upon large herbivours animals at their time which may include horses, deer and bison. The European Cave Lion may also prey on small prey such as rabbits or mouse at that time. When killing their prey the European Cave Lio will usually kill it by crushing through their back neck with their stong build jaws and sharp teeth. When killing smaller prey, the European Cave Lion will mostly use its powerful paw to blow out their prey.
Source 8: European Cave Lion Prey: Ancient Bison
Present: Leopard: http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Leopard
Future: Marozi: http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Marozi
Bibliography And Links
Links:
1. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cave_Lion
2. http://art-of-sekhmet.deviantart.com/art/The-European-Cave-Lion-112842896
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age
Bibliograhy:
1. Diego, San. (2010, May 5). Http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange2/01_1.shtml.
2. Funk, Monk. (2010, July 16). Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/panthera_leo_spelaea*
3. Museum, World. (2010, January 12). Http://www.worldmuseumofman.org/cavelion.htm.
4. Earth, Planet. (2010, June 22). Http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=746.
5. Tressure, Fossil. (2010, July 28). Http://www.fossil-treasures-of-florida.com/cave-lion.html.